Paper feeding mechanism



July 11, 1939. F. E. CURTIS PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed June 10, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l I IN VENT OR.

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3 19394 F. E.- CURTIS PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed June 10, 1957 INVENTQR. [F (53% L9 a. 7 2 a 6g w J VV 7 r h 6 v n G i -i=3; v 0 Q 7007274 J W 5 W M am a .2 v 4 7 W o W 5 m 5 6 .6 V

Patented July 11, 1939 umrsp STATES PATENT, OFFICE Franklin E. Gurtis, Wilioughby,

Ohio, assignor to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation 01 Delaware Original application June 10, 1937, Serial No.

Divided and this application November 13, 1932, Serial No. 114,394

10 Claims.

This invention relates to paper feeding mechanism, and isespecially concerned with an improved paper-feeding mechanism for use in connection with printing or duplicating machines.

type adapted for general oiiice use. One of the more specific objects of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism which. is simple in operation and which will require the minimum amount of attendance by the operatonto the end .that comparatively unskilled operators may successfully operate the mechanism over continuous periods of time.

' A further object of the present invention is the provision of a simple and compact sheet feeding mechanism, which may be incorporated in a rotary printing machine, and which will feed sheets, one at a time, from thetop of the stack, in timed relation to the printing member, regardless of the thickness of the sheets of the stack, without requiring the making of complicated adjustments, or the use of complicated mechanisms, and thus enable comparatively unskilled operators to successfully operate the mechanism.

Other objects of apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention; The essential features of .the invention will be summarized in .the claims. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a horizontal section taken through a printing machine in which my improved paper-feeding mechanism is incorporated, the plane of the section being taken along the line I-I of Fig. 2; Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections, the planes of the sections being indicated by the lines 2-2 and 3-3 respectively, on Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail, the plane of the section being indicated by the offset lines 4-7-4 on Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section,

as indicated by the lines 5-5 on Fig. 2.

Referring again to the drawings, it will be seen that I have illustrated myv improved paper-feeding mechanism in connection with a printing machine, having a .printing roller I0 provided duplicating machines of the.

with a printing plate I1. However, in place of the plate I1 I may use the usual offset printing blanket, to which the image is applied in the manner generally well known in the planographic printing art.

As shown,- the printing drum III is secured to a shaft II, which is joumalled in a pair of spaced end frame plates I2 and I3. The frame plates are tied together by cross-frame members generally indicated at I4. Cooperating with the 10 printing drum Ill is a platen roll I5, which may likewise be journalled in the frame plates I2 and I3. The printing drum I0 may be driven in any well-known manner, such as, for instance, by a motor, through gears which mesh with a gear I8, 15 secured as shown in Fig. l, to either the drum III or its supporting shaft I I, as shown in Fig. i.

As heretofore mentioned, my improved sheetfeeding mechanism is adapted to feed the uppermost sheet of paper from a stack. As shown in 20 the drawings, the paper stack is preferably supported by a table 20, which is slidably mounted for vertical movement in the frame members I2 and I3 in the printing machine. The arrangement is such that the table 20 is raised at periodic g5 intervals to maintain the uppermost sheet in the stack in horizontal plane, passing substantially within the bite of the platen roll I5 and the printing roll I0.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the paper table comprises a horizontal plate-like member having side flanges 2I, each of which is provided with a pair of rollers 22. These rollers project outwardly this invention will become from the' sides of the table 20, and engage the walls of slotted openings 23, formed in the re- 86 spective frame plates I2 and I3, thus guiding the table for vertical movement.

The table 20 is periodically raised by suitable mechanism, which is operated by the printing roll shaft II, and when raised, is maintained in 4 its raised position by suitable detent mechanism.

In the raising mechanism illustrated herein, the table 20 is provided at either side with a downwardly depending plate 24, provided with a rack-like formation 25. These racks are engaged 45 by pinions 26, drivingly secured to a shaft 21 journalled in the frame members I2 and I3. Drivingly secured to the shaft 21, as shown in Fig. 2, is a ratchet wheel 28, which is periodically engaged by a pawl formation This lever is pivotally mounted as at 3| on one arm 3| of a bail 32, which-is pivoted to the frame intermediate the ends of its arms as at 33. The outer end of the arm 34 is provided with a roller 43, which is intermittently engaged by a cam ll, u

- ber of sheets, or morespecifically, until the stack of sheets has been reduced by a predetermined thickness. As shown in the drawings, a lever 45 is rotatably journalled on the ratchet wheel shaft 21. One end of this lever is arranged to engage a pin 46, secured to the lower end of a lever 30,

, and when in engagement therewith, retains the pawl formation 29 out of engagement with the ratchet 26.

As the sheets are fed from the stack W on the table 28 they are withdrawn from beneath the overhanging lips 5| of a series of fingers, or holddown members 50. These fingers are mounted for vertical sliding movement on a frame member 55 and are resiliently drawn downwardly toward the table by springs 52a. One of the fingers 58, such as, for instance, the finger 50a. in Fig. 5, is provided at its lowermost end with a pin 54, which is embraced by the slotted end of a lever 52, pivoted as at 53, to the frame plate 55. The lever 52 extends outwardly through an opening 56 in the frame member I3, and is provided at its outer end with a pin 51, which is engaged by the forked end 58 of the lever 45, heretofore described, thus controlling the movement of this lever, as well as the effective operation of the table feed mechanism by the height of the sheets in the stack.

When a suflicient number of sheets have been withdrawn from the table to rock the lever 45 at a distance permitting the pin 46 to disengage the forward end of the lever 45, the pawl formation 29 advances the ratchet 28, thus raising the table. This raising movement of the table also raises the fingers, thereby resetting the lever arm 45.

- The paper feed table is maintained inits raised position by a detent pawl 60, which is pivoted as at 6| to a frame member, and is maintained in engagement with the ratchet wheel 28 by a spring 62, interposed between the lever 38 and'the pawl 68, thus moving both the detent pawl 60 and the driving pawl member 29 toward the ratchet 28.

When it is desired to lower the table to replenish the supply of sheets, the operator pushes inwardly on a knob 65 (Figs. 1 and 4). This knob is slidable axially on the outermost end of the shaft 21, which projects through the frame member I3 and the cover plate I3a. When moved toward the machine the inner end of the knob hub engages a bevelled nose 66 of the pawl 60, thus disengaging the detent pawl from the ratchet, permitting the table to drop under the control of the knob, which is drivingly secured to the shaft by the usual pin and slot connection. After a block of sheets has been placed on the table, the rotation of theknob in a clockwise direction raises the table, to br ng the topmost sheet into feeding position, with a consequent slight raising of the fingers 58.

The sheet feeding mechanism with which this invention is especially concerned separates the top sheet from the stack on the table before such sheet is fed into the bite of the printing roll. This separating movement of the sheet withdraws it from beneath the lips 5i, and is accomplished by a feed roller 10. This roller is rotated first in one direction and then in the other, and is bodily reciprocated into and out of 'contact with the sheets.

As shown in the drawings, the feed roller I0 is provided with a rubber sheath or covering 66a,

' and is drivingly secured to a shaft II, journailed in the arms 34 of the bail 92, heretofore described. The feed roller I0 is rotated by a reciprocating rack I3 (Fig. 2), which engages a pinion Ha on the shaft II. This rack is formed on the undersurface of a link I4, pivotally attached as at I5, to a lever 16, which is pivotally mounted on a shaft or stud 11. To maintain the shifting rack in engagement with its pinion I provide a guide shown as comprising a sleeve I2 on the shaft II, having upwardly extending flange which carries ears 12a extending across the top of the link 14 and then downward on the far side thereof.

' The lever 16 is swung about its pivot, in timed relationship with the rotation of the printing drum III, by a pair of cams I8 and 19, which are secured to the printing roll III. A cam groove 80 is formed between these two cams and receives a. roller 8|, carried by the lever I6. Thus, as the cams l8 and I9 swing the lever I6, the feed roll III is rotated first in one direction and then in the other, as indicated by the arrows on Fig. 1.

As shown, the exterior cam 18 is segmental. However, the frictional contact between th roll and the uppermost sheet in the stack maintains the feed roll in contact with the cam I8 during the major portion of its rotation. However, a stop 82 is provided to prevent the roller M from moving out of the path of the cams I8 or I9.

As indicated, the feed roll I8 rotates in a clockwise direction, and to withdraw a sheet from beneath tne lips 5| and carry it rearwardly, and due to a stop bar 83, which engages such sheet at the rear of the roll, the sheet is buckled, as indicated at WI, separating the top sheets from the remaining sheets in the stack. When the top sheet has been separated, the cam and rack mechanism operates to rotate the feed roll 18 in a counterclockwise direction at a comparatively high rate of speed, and the stop-bar is simultaneously raised out of contact with the sheet, as hereinafter more fully described. The raising of the stop-bar in a counter-clockwise movement of the feed roller results in the sheets being rapidly progressed into the bite of the printing couple. The feed roll is then raised clear of the sheet, as hereinafter described, permitting the printing couple to complete the withdrawal of the sheet.

The paper stop-bar 83, which is used whenever average or light-weight sheets are being fed, is a yoke-like member having its bar portion 84 encased in a rubber or similar gripping material 85. This stop-bar is piv0tally secured to pins 86, carried by the frame plates I2 and I3, and is rocked up and down, about such shaft, by a cam 86a (Fig 2), which is secured to the printing drum shaft II. This cam 86a coacts with a roller 81, carried by one end of a bell crank 88, pivoted as at 89, to the frame member I3. The outer end of this bell crank is pivotally connected to the stop bar 83, by a link 90.

When comparatively heavy sheets are being fed, it requires a considerable distance for the formation of the separating buckle WI. The stop bar 83 is then moved up and held out of contact with the sheets, and the sheets are buckled against a back stop which may be the rear paper guide. As shown in the drawings. the stop bar 83 is held out of engagement with the sheet by a latch or hook 9!, which is pivotally mounted to the frame member I2, as for instance, on one of the cross frame bars I4. The hook 9| is arranged to be swung from an idle position, incontact with a stop pin 92, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, to the dotted line position shown in that figure, in which latter position the hook engages a pin '88, which-may be the extension of the pivot pin between the link 88 and the bell crank 88, thus maintaining the stopbar out of engagement with the sheets W. The rear paper guide may'comprise a plate-like member 95 extending vertically upward at the rear end of the stacked sheets, and adjustably pomtioned,

in contact with the stack by an adjusting screw or nut 88.

periodically moved up and down. The feed roll is raised out of contact with the sheet immediately after its counter-clockwise rotation, atv

which time the sheet has been fed to and gripped by the printing rolls I8 and IS. The sheet is then further withdrawn from the stack, solely by the operation and contact of the sheets with such printing rolls. This movement of the feed roll toward and from thestack W is accomplished by the mechanism which was heretofore described in connection with the table raising mechanism,

and includes the rollers 48,- the ball 82 and the cam 48. Inasmuch as the feed roll is journalled' between the arms 34 of the bail, the swinging 1 movement imparted thereto .by the cam to raise the paper feed-table serves to raise and lower the feed roll. j

When, for any reason, it is desired'to stop the paper 'feed, the operator merely trips the lever I28, Fig. 2, to release it from the cam I2I, which thereupon is swung by the spring .122 to engage the roller and raise the feed roller out or engagement with the paper. To enable the tripping of the lever I28 to be very readily effected manually, I extend a tongue I25 from the side of the lever outwardly through a slotted opening in the machine casing. Engagement of this ,tongue by the operator's finger will release the cam and stop the Iced. This same movement-by raising the feed roller carries the raising pawl 29 upwardly out of operating position, and thus stops any elevation of the paper table.

The feeding mechanism is also automatically thrown out of action whenever the table is raisedto a predetermined position, so that the feed will be stopped just before the flnai sheet or sheets have. been fed. This is effected by the upper guide roll 22' of the paper table engaging the lower endof the latch lever I28. The time of this engagement may be accurately selected by adjusting the position of the roller 22 on the raising paper frame, as, for instance, by providing an eccentric bushing between the bore of this roller and the supporting pin on theraising frame.

Whenever it is desired to restore the paper feed to active position, this is readily accomplished by .swingingdown the hand lever I38, which is rigidly connected with the cam I 2|. When the cam is swung down to idle positi n. the l ver-ext nds vertically; then, to restore the paner leelig leverismerely v turning the cam back about one-qua rturn.

turned 'to horizontal position, thus where it is engagedby tjhe latch lever I28. i '-The connection,.between-tlie lever I88 a ,dthe' necting them Figs. 1 and 3 show at I88 a suitable stop bar to the rack to rotate the roller As' heretofore mentioned, the feed roll 18 is I tight to the shait II, and making all the other parts on the shaft loose thereon, or by leaving the lever and cam loose of the shaft and conshaft.

, I claim:

tion of a means for supporting a stackof sheets,

a roller adapted to engage theendmost sheet, a carriage in which saidroller is rotatably mounted,

a guidewayon saidcarriage, a rack geared to the rollerand mounted in said guideway, and means pivotally connected with said rack to reciprocate first in one direction and then in the other direction, a rotary cam to actuate said lever,'and means to move said carriage and rack and roller toward and away from the stack.

, 2. In a paper feed mechanism, the combination of a means for supporting a pile of sheets, a roller adapted-to engage the topmost sheet, a carriage in which said roller is rotatably mounted, said carriage being pivotally mounted to move the roller toward or away from the top sheet of the pile, a guldeway on said carriage, a rack geared to the roller and mounted in said guideway, a lever pivotally connected with said rack to reciprocate the rack to rotate the roller first in one direction and then in the other direction, arotary exam to actuate said lever, a second rotary cam to swing said mounting about its pivot, and a common operating means for both rotary cams. V 3. The combination of a paper table, .a back stop for a pile'of sheets on the table, a reversible feed roller adapted to engage the topmost sheet of the pile, a stop bar between the feed roller and back stop, movable independent of the latter means for moving the stop bar into engagement with the topmost sheet'and while in such engagement rotating the feed roller in the direc-. tion to buckle the sheet between it and the stop bar, means for thereafter raising and lowering the feedroller and while it is raised reversing its direction, and means for raising the stop bar, so that the lowered and reversed roller may r p and feed the sheet'irom the stack. 4. The combination of a paper stop for a pile of sheets on the table, a reversible feed roller adapted to engage the topmost sheet of the pile, a movable stop bar between the feed roller and back stop, means for moving "the stop bar into engagement with the topmost sheet and by a sleeve loosely surrounding the table, a back while in such engagement moving the reed roller to buckle the sheet between it and the stop bar, means for thereafter operating the feed roller in a reverse direction and raising the stop bar to feed the gripped sheet, and means for holding the sto bar idle while the back stop is eflective. to enable the 5. Ina paper teed mechanism, the combination "of means for supporting a pile of sheets; a feed to engage the endmost sheet, mechroller adapted mm to turn the roller first in one direction to.

' buckle such endmost sheet, and then in the opposite direction to feed the buckled sheet, and means has started} and means for automatically mov-' ing the feed roller to idle position when the supply of paper is nearly exhausted.

' 6'. In a paper feed mechanism, the combination foimeans ror supporting apile of sheets, a feed feed rollertobuckle the sheet against the back stop.

roller adapted to enga e the endmost'sheet, mechanism to turn the roller first in one direction to buckle such endmost sheet; and then in the opposite direction to feed the buckled sheet, andmeans for automatically movingthe i'eed roller bodily for' each sheet fed to cause the roller to clear the sheet after the feeding movement of the sheet has started, and manual means for moving the feed roller to idle position. r

'7. In a paper feed mechanism combination,- means for supporting a pile of sheets, a feed roller adapted to engagethe topmost sheet, mechanism to turn the roller first inone direction to buckle such topmost sheet, and then in the opposite direction to feed the buckled sheet, a cam operatingfor each sheet fed for moving the feed roller bodily to cause it to clear the sheet after the feeding movement of the sheet has started,

a normally idle cam adapted to raise the feed roller from the top of the pile of sheets, and

means for' releasing the last-mentioned cam and for moving it when released to render the feed rollidie. g

8. In a paper feeding mechanism, the combination of a horizontally extending table to support a stack of sheets, one abovethe other, a carriage pivotally mounted above said table to swingup and down toward and away from the v topmost sheet in the stack, a feed roll journalled in said carriage for contact with a sheet when the,.carriage.is swung toward the stack, a gear drivingly secured to said roll, a rack mounted for reciprocation in said carriage and operatively connected to drive said gear flrstin one direction'and then in another, a rotary drive shaft, a

cammounted thereon, a pivoted lever operated by said cam and pivotally connected to recipro-.

cate said rack, a' second rotary cam on said shaft arranged and adapted to rock said carriageabout its pivots, a stop bar pivotally mounted to move into and out of contact with the'topmost sheet in the stack, a third cam on said shaft.tooperg ate'said stop bar, said cams being amazed and adapted to cause the stop bar androll'to be in contact with the topmost sheet of the stack and to rotate the roll to move such sheet the stop bar, thereby causing the sheet to and subsequently and simultaneously reverse the direction'of rotation of the roll and raise the stop bar to eject the sheet from the stack, and thereafter raise the roll and reverse its direction of rotation prior to the bringing of the roll into contact with the next sheet.

9. The combination of a paper table, a back stop for a pile of sheets on the table, a device for buckling the top sheet on the pile, a mowable stop bar between the buckling device and n the back stop, means for moving the'stop bar into .engagement with the topmost sheet, and means for holding the stop bar idle when desired whereby the sheet may be'buckled either against the stop bar or the back stop.

10. In a paper feed mechanism, the combination of means for supporting a stack of sheets, a pivoted ball, a roller adapted to engage the endmost sheet and mountedon a shaft carried by said bail, a pinion on the shaft, a rack meshing with the pinion, a sleeve surrounding the shaft and carrying a guide for the rack, means for 

